Sweet Waters Throne

“What are you now sister, Lord Balrus?” Artemis made a joke about his sister. A joke which Aeryn didn’t take so lightly.

“I am serious about this brother. How can you be so worried about Aurora, and have zero interest in your own crown?”

“Maybe because I don’t love the crown as much as I love my woman” Artemis tried to stand up, but he was too weak to make a move hence he found himself sitting down again. “Argh! Where are you Aurora...”

“Lord Gandalf has lions, ten mighty lions. Doesn’t that scare you?”

“If you know the history of what happens to House Old City then you are very aware of the history sister. Five failed rebellions and they had over ten lions, we can defeat them if they dare make a move. I told father to sack house Old City but he just didn’t listen”

“It’s the oldest house in Maldonia not to mention the richest. We have lost them as our allies and I fear for us. What if the Taelins win the rebellion, they will march to the capital”

Artemis was shocked “Whatever that for? The crown isn’t at war with Prophis”

.....

“Tell that to Castellan Taelin when he is at your gates. You brother, will put all of our heads on a pike”

“You sister, will put my head on a pike just by simply being so hothead and a know it all. I know what I’m doing...”

“Do you? By drinking yourself to death longing for a servant?”

Artemis had enough, he raised his hand as a warning to Aeryn. Princess Aeryn knew her place and kept quiet although she had a lot of things to speak.

Then suddenly the main gates were opened, the guards saw Aurora riding a cart while shaking and panting hard. She didn’t even make it a few more steps forward when she fainted. The guards picked her up and rushed to the palace.

Inside the palace, Artemis had no idea what was going on. He was in the midst of his fight with his sister “She is not a servant anymore, when will you let go of that name?”

“It’s what she is but you fail to see it. Wed me, brother” Princess Aeryn’s last sentence made Artemis’s eyes widened with amazement.

It was no secret the ways of Maldonians have always shocked the newcomers. Especially House Arteides and their long tradition of marrying siblings for thousands of years. From the very first king of Maldonia, king Corlys of House Arteides who wed his own sister Princess Ivette both from the same womb.

King Corlys won the rebellion against a house in power during that time, House Lief and ascended the throne making him the first king from House Arteides to sit on the sweet waters throne. The Lieves were known for their trait of being strong and powerful, but Corlys was stronger and he had a huge army.

In order to keep the line of succession pure, King Corlys wed his sister and they together had four sons and one daughter of pure Arteides blood. The tradition continued and when king Corlys died, his first born son Prince Cristin wed his only sister Princess Imelda.

Over the centuries the tradition continued, even if the king were to father hundreds of bastards he was to first wed his sister in order to continue the succession. That’s why when Artemis was shocked, Princess Aery had to intervene.

“Our ancestors have been doing that for years” she said.

“There has never been an incest wedding for two centuries”

“That won’t stop us from doing what the great king Corlys did. Tell me brother, is there any king as powerful as Corlys?”

“You are insane sister” Artemis passed right through his sister and pulled over his cloak. He’s had enough for the day, and he didn’t want to entertain his sister no longer.

Just before Aeryn could talk, one of the kingsguards approached Artemis to inform him about Aurora. Without haste Artemis took off leaving his sister behind, and this was more of a disrespect to Aeryn. The reason why she was against his brother marrying Aurora was because she wanted him for herself.

All that time Lord Balrus was eavesdropping the conversation with a smile. It is a time where he was ought to be asleep, but yet again Master of the spies would never sleep. He made haste to his chambers and stayed there.

Aurora was quickly taken to the maesters and it was Artemis who carried her. He screamed at his maesters “Don’t let her die! Do you hear me?”

“We shall do our best Your Grace” The grand maester assured him. Then he looked upon his fellows “Let’s get to work shall we?” and they laid Aurora down to check on what was wrong with her.

Lord Balon and Lord Angun stood beside their king inside his chambers as he paced back and forth waiting to hear anything from the maesters. It was Lord Balon’s duty as hand to support his king, but for Lord Angun he was just doing that out of duty and also because he had news.

Lord Angun slowly walked to Artemis “Your Grace” he called out to him softly.

“Yes my lord?”

“I know this is not a good time... and you are rather distracted but it is a matter of haste”

Lord Balon intervened “It can wait until the king is stable” he said attempting to stop Lord Angun from further distracting the king. However, Artemis agreed to hear from Lord Angun “It’s alright Lord Hand. What is it lord Angun?”

Lord Angun cleared his throat before delivering his speech “Lord Gandalf’s sister, lady Aryan who you were supposed to wed has been betrothed to Amabel Taelin of Prophis, the heir to the crown” he said.

That wasn’t a good news to Artemis. His enemy, Gandalf was getting closer to a crown of Prophis. By marrying his sister to Amabel it would simply mean if Castellan were to die during the war then Layd Aryan will be Queen. And the poor eight-year boy might not even live to see his adulthood, Gandalf was a vile creature. He wouldn’t hesitate slitting the boy’s throat.

Artemis was caught by surprise; he was speechless for a moment. He sighed the first time, and did it again as if he was trying to calm himself down.

“Your Grace?” Lord Angun called out.

“It’s... um... I’ll call out a small council meeting tomorrow. We shall discuss this in depth”

Lord Angun slightly bowed “Your Grace...” and then he walked away.

Artemis pulled his cloak and stroked his hairs. Things weren’t getting easy and this was the moment he had to make a decision. Join the war and crash his enemies once and for all, or sit out of all the dramas and see what will happen?

While he was thinking out loud Aurora opened her eyes and she started coughing softly while trying to regain her composure, Artemis raced to her rescue. He laid her head in his arms. “Is she going to be alright?” he asked the maesters.

“She’s stable for now, but she will be weak for a while. Whoever took her made sure to overdose her with sleeping portions. It will take time for her to fully recover”

Artemis turned to Aurora with somber eyes, he kissed her lips and embraced her tight. Aurora couldn’t talk, but she sure did have a lot in her mind to speak. Artemis assured her that it’s alright to stay quiet as they will discuss about all things later.

Lord Balon was still inside Artemis’s chambers, he was quiet and obviously worried about the outcomes of the war. Artemis covered Aurora with a heavy blanket and walked towards his hand “Let’s take a walk in the garden” he said.

“Yes, Your Grace”

There were three guards outside of Artemis’s chambers sworn to protect Aurora with their lives. From then Artemis knew he had to haste the wedding and crown Aurora queen of Maldonia, and hence with that she will also be entitled to guards and protection.

That night was restless for Artemis, Aeryn who had just proposed to her brother and now she was regretting it, Lord Balrus who was eavesdropping to every conversation without being seen and Aurora who vomited a lot while being surrounded by maesters. It was a rough night with full moon, and for some who believed in things such as witchcrafts and theories, then they will be aware that when moon is full things do get mixed up.